Calendar for December 14th, 2012

Halcyon Days begin

The Halcyon Days also occur around this time. According to ancient legend, a grieving wife named Halcyon threw herself into the sea upon discovering the drowned body of her beloved husband, Ceyx. The gods took pity on the pair, transforming them into kingfishers, or halcyons, with the power to still the stormy seas for 14 days near the time of the winter solstice while they hatched their young.

1790s

Died 1799: George Washington (1st U.S. president)

1800s

1807: First recorded meteorite in the New World fell in Weston, Connecticut